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The Impact of Various Trade Arrangements on Malaysia’s Bilateral Trade Costs

Author

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  • Woei, Tan Jiunn

    (Faculty of Economics and Management Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang, Selangor MALAYSIA)

  • Chin, Lee

    (Faculty of Economics and Management Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang, Selangor MALAYSIA)

  • Mohamed, Azali

    (Faculty of Economics and Management Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang, Selangor MALAYSIA)

  • Ismail, Normaz Wana

    (Faculty of Economics and Management Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang, Selangor MALAYSIA and Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang Selangor MALAYSIA)

Abstract

The benefits of trade agreements on trade activities are notably acknowledged but the impact on bilateral trade costs remains obscure and have to be further examined. First, this study will construct the micro measure of bilateral trade cost, and then the constructed trade costs will be utilized to estimate the impact of trade arrangements on trade costs for Malaysia and her trading partners for the year 2002-2012. The results show that all four types of trade arrangements, namely the Multilateral Trade Arrangement (MTA), Regional Trade Arrangement (RTA), Bilateral Free trade Arrangement (BFTA) and bilateral trade Arrangement (BTA) have lowered trade costs. In addition, the different types of trade arrangements result in a variation of trade costs, where regional trade arrangements are expected to reduce bilateral trade costs the most. However empirical result shows otherwise where BFTA gave the highest reduction in trade costs for Malaysia. As to date, the number of BFTA that has been signed is far behind BTA. It is recommended that Malaysia realign its focus towards BFTA with the hope that Malaysia and her trading partners will experience a greater reduction of trade costs in the coming years.

Suggested Citation

  • Woei, Tan Jiunn & Chin, Lee & Mohamed, Azali & Ismail, Normaz Wana, 2018. "The Impact of Various Trade Arrangements on Malaysia’s Bilateral Trade Costs," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 52(2), pages 69-80.
    • Handle: RePEc:ukm:jlekon:v:52:y:2018:i:2:p:69-80
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/JEM-2018-5202-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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